Fox Networks Group

This month’s deals for South American football rights followed a trend in the sub-Saharan African sports rights market in 2016 – Kwesé Sports and StarTimes acquired second-tier properties, Fox Sports were outbid and SuperSport let go of a poorly-performing property.

Fox Networks Group significantly increased the value of US Open rights across Asia as the syndicator’s regional broadcast arm sought to complete its coverage of the tennis grand slams.

Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports has positioned itself as the home of tennis in the Netherlands following deals for ATP and WTA rights in recent weeks.

Southern hemisphere rugby rights have increased significantly in global value, driven by explosive growth in the UK, France and the Middle East, and supported by strong returns in difficult core markets.

Distributing the commercial rights to next summer’s Copa América Centenario is a “great opportunity” for the IMG agency.

Australia’s National Rugby League this week said its unprecedented decision to strike a deal for free-to-air rights ahead of negotiating pay-television rights had contributed to its record total media-rights income.

Fox Sports Africa has restarted its coverage of Major League Soccer in sub-Saharan Africa after year-long negotiations with IMG and Soccer United Marketing.

The Traffic Sports agency has said that it remains the international rights-holder for a series of tournaments operated by Conmebol, after the governing body of football in Latin America announced it had agreed a deal with pay-television broadcaster Fox International Channels.

International pay-television broadcaster Fox International Channels has acquired rights for a series of tournaments operated by Conmebol, the governing body of football in Latin America.

The contract for the unsold commercial rights to next year’s centenary edition of the Copa América represents an opportunity for sports-rights agencies to build relationships with the two governing bodies of football in the Americas.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship last month signed off its first English-language broadcast deal in sub-Saharan Africa, plugging a large gap in its global footprint.

Fox Sports Latin America this week enhanced its football portfolio with a deal for US Major League Soccer. 

The National Football League has endured mixed fortunes in its early deals in Europe, earning increases in Germany and France but seeing the value of its rights fall in the Netherlands.

Fox’s deal to sublicense rights to the 2016 Olympic Games in Turkey to the Saran Media agency marks the end of its failed experiment with sport in the Turkish market.

The Fox International Channels (FIC) broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox has appointed Frank Rutten as executive vice-president of its operations in Europe and Africa.

France’s Ligue 1 has earned an increase of 20 to 25 per cent in the value of its media rights in sub-Saharan Africa following deals agreed in recent weeks.

The Saran Media agency has acquired rights in Turkey for the 2016 summer Olympic Games.